A team of researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) has now created an AI-based tool named RENAISSANCE, which they say simplifies the creation of kinetic models. RENAISSANCE combines various types of cellular data to accurately depict metabolic states, making it easier to understand how cells function. The development of RENAISSANCE may open new avenues for research and innovation in health and biotechnology.
Their findings are published in Nature Catalysis in an article titled, “Generative machine learning produces kinetic models that accurately characterize intracellular metabolic states.”
Modern biology generates large datasets on various cellular activities. These “omics” datasets provide insights into different cellular functions, such as gene activity and protein levels. However, integrating and making sense of these datasets to understand cell metabolism is challenging.
Kinetic models offer a way to decode this complexity by providing mathematical representations of cellular metabolism. Despite their potential, developing kinetic models is challenging due to the difficulty in determining the parameters that control cellular processes.
The researchers used RENAISSANCE to create kinetic models that accurately reflected Escherichia coli’s metabolic behavior. The tool successfully generated models that matched experimentally observed metabolic behaviors, simulating how the bacteria would adjust their metabolism over time in a bioreactor.
The kinetics models also proved to be robust, maintaining stability even when subjected to genetic and environmental condition perturbations. This indicates that the models can reliably predict the cellular response to different scenarios, enhancing their practical utility in research and industrial applications.
“Despite advancements in omics techniques, inadequate data coverage remains a persistent challenge,” said Ljubisa Miskovic, PhD, author of the study at EPFL. “For instance, metabolomics and proteomics can detect and quantify only a limited number of metabolites and proteins. Modeling techniques that integrate and reconcile omics data from various sources can compensate for this limitation and enhance systems understanding. By combining omics data and other relevant information, such as extracellular medium content, physicochemical data, and expert knowledge, RENAISSANCE allows us to accurately quantify unknown intracellular metabolic states, including metabolic fluxes and metabolite concentrations.”
RENAISSANCE’s ability to accurately model cellular metabolism has significant implications, offering a powerful tool for studying metabolic changes whether they are induced by disease or not, and aiding in the development of new treatments and biotechnologies. Its ease of use and efficiency will enable a broader range of researchers in academia and industry to utilize kinetic models effectively and will foster collaboration.
